ARTICLE 10
DRUG REPOSITORY PROGRAM
31-10-24. Preservation or disposition of vital records; certified reproductions; preserved originals and authorized reproductions as property of department.
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The department is responsible for the preservation or disposition of all vital records at state or county offices. To preserve vital records, the state registrar is authorized to prepare typewritten, photographic, electronic, or other reproductions of certificates or reports in the State Office of Vital Records. Such reproductions when certified by the state registrar or the local custodian shall be accepted as the original records for all purposes. The documents from which permanent reproductions have been made and verified may be preserved or disposed of as provided by regulation.
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All preserved original or authorized reproductions by the state and local custodians remain the property of the department. Such original or authorized reproductions shall be surrendered to the department when so ordered.
(Ga. L. 1945, p. 236, § 20; Ga. L. 1953, Jan.-Feb. Sess., p. 140, § 10; Code 1933, § 88-1722, enacted by Ga. L. 1964, p. 499, § 1; Code 1933, § 88-1724, enacted by Ga. L. 1982, p. 723, § 1; Code 1981, §31-10-11; Code 1981, §31-10-24, enacted by Ga. L. 1982, p. 723, § 2; Ga. L. 2004, p. 477, § 11.)
JUDICIAL DECISIONS
Death certificate established unavailability of witness.
- Copy of a deceased witness's death certificate signed and certified by the county custodian and the state vital records registrar, pursuant to O.C.G.A.
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31-10-24, constituted prima facie evidence of the fact that the witness was no longer alive, and admission of the deceased witness's statement was proper. Brite v. State, 278 Ga. 893, 608 S.E.2d 204 (2005).